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A Prayer in Times of Tragedy
When tragedy strikes and words fail, this is a prayer to bring to God the grief of a community, a nation, or the world.
God of all comfort, we come to You in the wreckage of this grief.
Be near to all who mourn, and hold those who are afraid.
Strengthen the hands that rescue and heal.
Where we cannot understand, help us to trust You.
Have mercy, Lord, and bring hope out of the dark. Amen.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
You don’t have to pray alone
On The Living Bread you can ask the family of God to pray for you and watch prayers be answered, or pray for someone else who needs it today. It is free, and you are welcome exactly as you are.
This prayer at a glance
| Prayer for | In Times of Tragedy |
|---|---|
| Lines to pray | 5 |
| Anchored in | Psalm 46:1 |
| Time to pray it | about a minute, slowly |
| Related prayers | 3 |
Questions people ask
What Scripture is a prayer in times of tragedy built on?
It rests on Psalm 46:1. The prayer above is written in plain words around that passage, and the verse is quoted from the stored text, not from memory.
What if I have no words to pray in times of tragedy?
Start with the first line of the prayer above and stop there if that is all you can say. God hears the first honest sentence. You can also ask the family of God on The Living Bread to pray with you and for you.
Can I pray this for someone else?
Yes. Change the first person to their name and pray the same lines for them. Praying for others is part of loving one another, and you can ask the family of God to join you.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see In Times of Tragedy and you know every person there by name. We bring you in times of tragedy, a nation, grief. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Pray the lines above once today, out loud if you can, and read Psalm 46:1 in your own Bible.
- Tell one trusted person that you are praying about in times of tragedy, and ask them to pray with you.
- Write down one thing you notice this week, so that you can thank God by name when it comes.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
